A Turning Point in Women’s Health: Why Hormone Matters to Every Woman—and Those Who Love Them
On July 17, 2025, the FDA hosted a national roundtable on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)—a major breakthrough for women’s health and how we approach menopause care. For far too long, hormone therapy has been misunderstood, brushed off, or even feared. Especially for women, it’s often surrounded by confusion, myths, and outdated beliefs. But here’s the truth: when done properly, HRT is not only safe—it can be life-changing.
👉 Watch the full FDA Roundtable here: https://youtu.be/_2ZRlOivC5M
Why This Matters to Every Woman—and Those Who Love Them
Whether you're supporting a wife, daughter, sister, mother, or girlfriend, this conversation affects women at every stage of life. As a nurse practitioner and former primary care provider, I’ve seen countless women dealing with fatigue, anxiety, brain fog, low libido, and poor sleep—yet walking through the healthcare system without ever hearing a word about hormone therapy.
During the FDA roundtable, Dr. Mary Jane Minkin said something that really hit home: most doctors receive little to no education on menopause. And she’s absolutely right. In my training, we focused on diagnosing and treating diseases—not preventing them. We memorized medications and how chronic conditions develop, but were never taught how nutrition, lifestyle, or hormones play into long-term health. Instead of learning how hormones support the brain, heart, bones, and metabolism, we were taught to fear estrogen—based on outdated breast cancer data that simply doesn’t hold up anymore. The result? Decades of women suffering in silence, misdiagnosed, and missing the chance to protect their health in a meaningful way.
Let’s Clear Up the Myths
Way too many women have been told that estrogen causes breast or ovarian cancer—but that’s simply NOT true. And it’s time we stop spreading that fear. Yes, HRT helps with hot flashes and night sweats—those are your brain's SOS signals when estrogen drops—but hormone therapy goes far beyond just managing symptoms. It’s a proactive, preventive approach to your long-term health.
Here’s what the latest research and clinical evidence actually show:
Estrogen and progesterone do NOT cause breast cancer—in fact, when done right, they can protect against it
Starting HRT before age 60 can lower your heart disease risk by 30–50%
Risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia drops significantly
Lower risk of Type 2 diabetes
Stronger bones—reduced risk of fractures and osteoporosis
Colorectal cancer risk decreases
No increased risk of ovarian cancer
This is not just about comfort—it’s about protecting your heart, brain, bones, and metabolic health for the long run.
This is NOT just symptom management.
This is preventive medicine.
Final Thoughts:
It’s Time to Reclaim Women’s Hormone Health
We’re finally seeing a national shift in how we talk about and value women’s hormone health and menopause care—and honestly, watching the FDA roundtable gave me chills many moments. It reminded me that I’m on the right path, doing the right thing for my patients.
One moment still sticks with me. A woman reached out about her symptoms—we had a great talk, made a plan, and scheduled her initial visit. A few days later, she canceled. Her message said, “My daughter told me hormone therapy isn’t safe, and she’s not okay with it.” I didn’t try to convince her. I simply said, “If and when you’re ready, I’ll be here.” But I carried that moment with me, because it reminded me how much fear and confusion still exists—especially between women, mothers, and daughters.
This is why awareness matters. It starts at home. In clinics. In communities. And it starts with real education, not outdated headlines.
Don’t let myths keep you or someone you love from feeling like themselves again.
If you’re dealing with menopause, perimenopause, or surgical hormone loss, it’s not too late to take action. You deserve to feel happier, healthier, with energy—and we’re here to help when you’re ready.
